Harvard Student Finds Out He Won Rhodes Via Text
BOSTON (CBS/AP) -- Thirty-two American students have been named Rhodes Scholars and will enter Oxford University next October. Among them are four students from Harvard.
One of those students, Harvard senior Baltazar Zavala, found out he won in the most unusual way – through a text message.
"I just looked up at my fiancé and said 'Oh my god,'" explained Zavala after he saw the text message that was waiting for him after Saturday's football game.
The text read, "Congratulations, you got the Rhodes Scholarship."
Podcast
WBZ News Radio's Kim Tunnicliffe spoke to Zavala about the honor.
Fellow senior and Rhodes Scholar, Zachary Frankle, is studying physics and math. He says he wants to use his Oxford education to launch a career in the research of infectious disease and epidemics.
Podcast
WBZ News Radio's Kim Tunnicliffe talks to Frankle.
Six other people either from Massachusetts or who attend Massachusetts universities were also named Rhodes Scholars.
Princeton University student Mark Jia of Waltham and University of Virginia student Laura Nelson of Westwood are among the 32 winners chosen to enter Oxford University in England next October.
Harvard students Zachary Frankel of New York City; Daniel Lage of Miami; Harvard Medical student Aakash Shah of Cliffside Park, N.J.; and MIT student Jennifer Lai of Honolulu, also earned scholarships.
Rhodes Scholarships were created in 1902 by the will of British philanthropist Cecil Rhodes. Winners are selected on the basis of high academic achievement, personal integrity, leadership potential and physical vigor.
(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
